The post New ‘Lucifer’ Bee Species Discovered in Australia appeared first on A-Z Animals.
The greatest trick the devil pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. It turns out, however, that Lucifer is real, and he’s a newly discovered bee species living down under in Australia. One researcher found this jet-black bee species while observing a rare type of wildflower. This flower only grows in the Bremer Ranges in Western Australia’s Goldfields region. It’s not just its dark coloring that gave this bee species its name, either. Females from this newly discovered species have large, prominent horns that look utterly devilish.
The Megachile Lucifer isn’t the only species of bee that’s been discovered by scientists this year. The Hylaeus paumako was discovered on the island of Moloka’i, Hawaii. All-black like the new Lucifer bee, an unusual feature for Hylaeus bees, this species was formally described by entomologist Karl Magnacca. Another type of bee, a miner bee with a metallic blue-green body, was discovered in Texas and Oklahoma only a few months earlier. Even so, the new Lucifer bee species stands out for its unique colors, features, and remote habitat. Let’s learn all about it.
A Devilish Discovery
Bee ecologist Kit Prendergast discovered the Lucifer bee species while observing a rare flower in Western Australia.
©JoshuaWells_Photography/ via Getty Images
The discovery of a lifetime happened to wild bee ecologist Kit Prendergast during an unrelated assignment. She was looking for pollinators of an endangered wildflower in the Bremer Ranges. This area in Western Australia’s Goldfields region is a little less than 300 miles east of Perth. While watching this rare flower, she saw a unique-looking bee. “I discovered the species while surveying a rare plant in the Goldfields and noticed this bee,” Prendergast said in a statement. “The female had these incredible little horns on her face.”
Sensing something special about this dark, horned bee, Prendergast collected several specimens. She took these back to her university for further analysis. Microscopic analysis showed the bees were about eight to nine millimeters long. Female specimens featured two horns that protruded about 0.9 millimeters from between their eyes. The jury is still out on their purpose. However, Prendergast theorized that the horns likely serve as some kind of defense mechanism. Later DNA analysis showed that the bee didn’t match any species in any database or museum collection. Thus, a new species of bee was officially discovered.
Mark of the Beast
Prendergast was watching the show “Lucifer” at the time of her discovery. It seemed like the perfect name to use for the new bee species.
©YouTube/BBCNews – Original
As Prendergast said in her statement, she had been watching the television program “Lucifer” at the time of the discovery. That, combined with the bee’s demonic appearance, made the name Megachile Lucifer a perfect choice. Since Lucifer also means ‘light-bringer’ in Latin, Prendergast believes the double meaning “brings to light the wonders of our native bees.” More interest and investment into the taxonomy, conservation, and ecology of native bees means we can protect both them and the rare and precious plants they pollinate.”
This dark-colored bee with protruding horns (on females) is special. It’s the first new member of its subgroup, Hackeriapis, to be formally described in over two decades. As Prendergast suggests, there are likely more undiscovered species in the same region. Because mining is common in the area, protecting rare species of bees and flowers is crucial for their survival. The report of her discovery was published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research. It called for both bees and flowers to be formally protected. Prendergast explained, “The new species was found in the same small area as the endangered wildflower; both could be at risk from habitat disturbance and other threats such as climate change.”
See No Evil
There are an estimated 500 native bees in Australia that have yet to be formally described.
©YouTube/BBCNews – Original
The Megachile Lucifer species of bee is one of the more unique-looking bees in Australia, but there is no telling just how many are out there waiting to be discovered. The land down under is home to over 2,000 species of native bees, but there are likely hundreds yet to be formally described. Indeed, an estimated 500 bees are out there waiting for proper classification. Since bees are integral to ecosystem health, many of these yet-to-be-described species are likely playing unseen roles in keeping native plants alive. As Prendergast explained, these relationships are crucial for ecosystem survival. She wrote, “So we may be missing undescribed species, including those that play crucial roles in supporting threatened plants and ecosystems.
If scientists don’t understand what native bees might exist out there and what plants they depend on, there’s a risk that both can be lost without human beings ever knowing. Lucifer bees may look devilish, but their discovery might shed light on Australia’s little-understood native bee species.
The post New ‘Lucifer’ Bee Species Discovered in Australia appeared first on A-Z Animals.
November 24, 2025 at 06:02PMTad Malone.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments